Sorrels engine

ABSTRACT

Engine is an internal combustion engine that is a unique combination of the use of; rotating cylinders radically arranged perpendicular to centerline of the power shaft, cams to force strokes which are in alignment with the cylinders which are attached to the power shaft, the energy of the power stroke and the resistance of the same by the cams produce rotation of the cylinders, pistons, connecting rods, restraining plates, seals and power shaft inside a ported engine housing. Engine should be lighter, able to use a variety of fuels, able to use simplified ignition systems, produce more power and be more cost efficient to manufacture and operate than existing engines of the same displacement Once engine position, fuel and compression ratio is decided lubricant ports, lubricant collection channels in the housing and seal and compression rings in the seal can be designed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Same as typical for existing 4 and 2 cycle engines

Existing 4 cycle utilize crankshafts that provide little mechanical advantage, have restricted intake and exhaust cycles, existing 4 cycle engines must store energy in flywheels to smooth power strokes and existing 4 cycle engines can provide only 1 power stroke per cylinder every other revolution. 2 cycle engines are polluters.

Attempts at designing rotary engines with some or most of the following elements; reciprocating pistons, rotating cylinders, cams and ported engine housings, have failed to produce marketable designs because; ether they would not produce the amount power required, were suitable only for aircraft, or were too complex, or could not be properly cooled or lubricated, or could not be practically manufactured.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this engine the resultant of the power stroke and resistance to the same by cams cast in the engine housing forces rotation of the cylinders, restraining plates, connecting rods, restraining hub, power shafts and spacing bars. Cylinders rotate past exhaust and intake ports in the cylinder head while the cams force the cycles. Engine provides a power stroke for every cylinder every revolution with unrestricted exhaust and intake strokes. A large percentage of the mass of the engine is rotating. The advantage of this engine is no flywheel is required, complete unrestricted exhaust and intake cycles, a power stroke every cylinder every revolution, resulting in an engine that is lighter, more fuel efficient, simple to manufacture and produces more power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the location of the cross sectional views

FIG. 2A shows sectional view number 1-1, refer to FIG. 2B

FIG. 2B assigns reference numbers to FIG. 2As' elements as follows

REF. NO. DESCRIPTION

-   1 Cylinder head (includes cooling ports and intake and exhaust     ports) -   2 Engine housing with cams -   3 Upper restraining ring -   4 Piston with rings -   5 Cylinder -   6 Cam bearings -   7 Cam roller bearings -   8 Cam roller -   9 Restraining plate slot bearings -   10 Restraining plate (includes power shaft) -   11 Power shaft bearings -   12 Restraining hub (includes lubricant reservoir) -   13 Connecting rod -   14 Seal and compression rings

FIG. 3 Shows sectional view numbers 2-2; refer to ref. no.s 2 (cam portion only), 6, 7, 8 and 13. Note: This device is shown in a simple form to best illustrate its function to offer resistance to power stroke and force the other 3 cycles.

FIG. 4 Shows sectional view number 3-3, refer to ref. no.s 1, 3, 5, 9, 10 and 13, showing how connecting rods extend through slots in the restraining plates and the rectangular area between slots where excess material has been removed.

FIG. 5A Shows sectional view number 44, refer to ref. no.s 1, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14 and 15, a longitudinal section through the center of the engine; showing how the connecting rods are restrained by the restraining hub lubricant reservoir, showing exhaust and intake ports, showing cylinder and piston alignment and showing threaded spacer bars.

FIG. 5B Assigns reference no.s to FIG. 5As' elements and has a bracketed view of element ref.no.15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Engine is a 4 cycle internal combustion engine with rotating cylinders (5), restraining ring (3), connecting rods (13), restraining plates (10), restraining hub (12), spacer bars (15), power shaft (10), cams (2) and cam rollers (8) (Refer to FIG. 2B and FIG. 5B), with the motion of the connecting rods restrained to those parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the cylinders and perpendicular to the power shaft by slots in the restraining plate (2) and by the restraining hub (12) (refer to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 4), That a) completes 4 cycles each cylinder each revolution b) has ports in the cylinder head for the escape of exhaust gases and the intake of fuel-air mixtures (refer to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B) c) has cams (2) that resist the force of the power stroke resulting in the rotation of the cylinders (5), connecting rods (13), connecting plates (10), spacer bars (15), seals (14), compression rings (14), restraining plates (10) and power shaft (10) (refer to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5B) d) has cams (2 )that force the exhaust, intake and compression cycles (refer to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 3). Manufacturing of the engine components and the assembly of the same is substantially the same as those for existing engines. 

1. (canceled)
 2. That this 4 cycle engine design in which the combination of rotating cylinders, pistons and connecting rods (with a fixed range of motion) around a fixed cam or cams (could be cam and belt or chain) cast in the side housings (with the resultant of the resistance by the cam to the direction of the power stroke producing the rotating forces and the resistance of the cam forces the exhaust, intake and compression strokes) within a ported fixed cylinder head (arranged in a way that improves manufacturability and power output) is a unique concept.
 3. That the engine has a cylindrical cylinder head that has ports to allow the intake of air or fuel air mixtures and the escape of exhaust gases, has liquid cooling jackets and, if required, has room for fuel and oxidizer injectors and an fuel igniter.
 4. That the engine has a singularity or plurality of cylinders, pistons and connecting rods which are restrained in in radially aligned plane perpendicular to to the power shaft by the upper restraining ring (which can be used as an oil pump), the restraining plates and spacer blocks.
 5. That the engine has restraining plates, with power shafts and bearings, which are attached to the restraining hub, includes lubricant reservoir, and the bottom ends of the connecting rods extend into holes in the same restraining hub.
 6. That the engine has connecting rods that have shafts that extend, perpendicular to their longitudinal centerline, though slots in the restraining plates and that have on the ends of the shafts cam rollers that extend between cams (could be cam and chain or belt) cast into the engines side housings (Duration of cycles and compression ratio can be modified by changing the shape of the cam and the location of the ports). 